Wouldn’t you think if the Solar Decathlon was such a good idea that the Obama Misadministration might want to hold it in a northern State during winter? If solar technology is such a great advance for residential housing as they use this event to tout, what better way to prove it by heating homes and generating power where and when it’s most needed?

…challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

Maybe the conservative majority now with 3-2 control of the Irvine City Council and the Great Park Board should suggest that to the DoE as it’s beginning to understand the fiscal nightmare left them at the Park by Team Scoundrel — Larry Agran and Beth Krom. $220 million already spent for Park development isn’t completely accounted for or justified. The simplest of revenue-generating moves — charging for the Park’s silly balloon and carousel rides appeared a grueling endeavor this week as the Council still needs to approve it after the Board voted for it — of course, these are all the same five people.

Per the Register, “The money earned [from the rides] would go toward covering some of the $3.3 million cost for the park and city to host the U.S. Solar Decathlon and energy XPO in October“. That’s hard to understand if, as the Reg reported, a balloon ride they’d sell for $10 actually costs $15.06. Worse, it’s looking more and more unlikely that Irvine and the Park will be ready for this national event — and that will mean a bigger embarrassment for the City AND the rest of Orange County than the great failure the Park has proven to be.